Page 186 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

DOGMA - DRAGON

endeavoured to keep up the law of Moses, and mix the Christ’s return (Lk. 1:13-17; Re. 11:3-6). [See Daniel,
observances of it with the doctrine of Christ and his Prophecy, Revelation.]
institutions. The prophet calls the false prophets dumb DOUBLE MINDED. This expression is used two times
dogs (Is. 56:10), to which the apostle here seems to in the book of James (1:8; 4:8). It refers to wavering in
refer. Dogs, for their malice against the faithful one’s relationship with the Lord, being less than single
professors of the gospel of Christ, barking at them and minded in seeking and serving Him. In chapter one the
biting them. They rent and tore the church of Christ, wavering is caused by trials. In chapter four, by the
and cut it to pieces; or contended for an abolished rite, temptations of the world (4:4-9).
a mere insignificant cutting of the flesh” (Henry). (4) An DOUBLE TO. Double (Job 11:6).
expression of derision (1 Sa. 17:43; 2 Ki. 8:13; Lk.
16:21). “Dogs were looked upon as unclean, and to call DOUBLETONGUED. Making contrary declarations
one a ‘dog’ was a stronger expression of contempt than on the same subject at different times; deceitful
‘
even today. The Jews called the Gentiles dogs.’ ‘Give not (Webster); equivocal, i.e. telling a different story
that which is holy unto the dogs’ generally means to not (Strong); double in speech, saying one thing with one
offer good and holy things to those who will spurn and person another with another (with the intent to
pervert them” (Zodiates). [See False Teaching, deceive) (Thayer) (1 Ti. 3:8). [See Beguile, Cunning
Immoral, Sodomy.] Craftiness, Deceit, Dissemble, Dissimulation, Feign,
Flattery, Honest, Hypocrisy, Pure Conscience, Sincere,
DOGMA. A settled opinion; a principle; maximum or Sleight, Subtil, Unfeigned.]
tenet; a doctrinal notion, particularly in matters of faith
DOWNSITTING. Sitting down (Ps. 139:2). In this
and philosophy; as the dogmas of the church (Webster). passage the Psalmist David was noting that the Lord
DOMINION. (1) God’s sovereign and supreme knows everything about him, his sitting down and his
authority to govern, control, use and dispose of at his rising up.
pleasure (Ep. 1:21; 1 Pe. 4:11; 5:11; Re. 1:6). (2)
Control (Ro. 6:9). (3) Government and authority (Mt. DOWRY. Purchase money (Ge. 34:12).
20:25). (4) The order of angels (Co. 1:16). [See Angel, DOXOLOGY (to speak praises). Doxology refers to
Government, Kingdom of God, Satan.] hymns of praise and worship in general, and to one
DONE AWAY. Removed; abolished; held back; English hymn in particular which begins with “praise
withdrawn (Nu. 27:4; 1 Co. 13:10; 2 Co. 3:11, 14). God, from whom all blessings flow.” It also refers to the
benediction following a sermon.
DOPHKAH (cattle driving). Nu. 33:12. DRAG. Fishing net (Hab. 1:15-16). [See Fishing.]
DOR (circle). Jos. 11:2. DRAGON. The dragon of the Bible is largely a
DORCAS. (doe, gazelle). Ac. 9:36. reference to a fearful aquatic monster, now extinct, and,
DOTE. To be delirious; to be silly; to be excessively in in a symbolic fashion, to the devil. The ancient dragon
love (Webster); to be taken with such an interest in a mythologies are probably founded in these realities.
thing as amounts to a disease, to have a morbid Legends about dragons abound through the ancient
fondness for (Eze. 23:5; 1 Ti. 6:4). world, dating from thousands of years before Christ,
DOTHAN (double feast). Ge. 37:17. and persisting into the 20th century. The dragon figures
DOUBLE FULFILLMENT. (Also called Double prominently in the mythology of the Oriental peoples, is
Perspective.) A term describing a common feature of deified in the Taoist religion and was the national
Bible prophecy. Often prophecies have two or more emblem of the Chinese Empire. The Roman legions
fulfillments. Examples: (1) God’s promises to David inscribed the dragon on the battle standards. The
concerning his son apply both to Solomon, David’s Norsemen adorned the prows of their ships with
immediate son, and to Jesus Christ, David’s Greater Son dragons. The Celts and Teutonic tribes which conquered
(2 Sa. 7:12-16; Mt. 1:1; Ac. 2:29-30; He. 1:5). (2) O.T. Britain depicted dragons on their shields, and the
prophecies concerning judgment upon Israel often have dragon appeared on the battle standards of the English
in view judgments which have been fulfilled in the past kings as late as the 16th century. In the 20th century, the
as well as judgments which will fall upon Israel prior to dragon still adorns the armorial bearings of the prince
Christ’s return (Is. 5:26-30). (3) The prophecies of of Wales (Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia). Though
judgments upon Gentile nations often have in view overlaid with fantasy, these ancient tales of dragons are,
judgments which are now past as well as judgments we believe, founded in reality. Following is a survey of
which are yet future (Is. 17:1-8; 19:1-25). (4) The the biblical usage of the term “dragon:”
prophecy in Mal. 4:5-6 regarding the coming of Elijah (1) A fearful sea creature (Ps. 74:13-14; 148:7; Is.
the prophet has a double fulfillment, in the coming of 27:1). In these passages the dragon is identified as an
John the Baptist as well as in a future coming prior to awesome sea creature. Is. 27:1 connects the dragon

186 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity